The Jacksonville Jaguars announced today that the club's athletic training staff has established The Luke Akerstrom Award. The award will be given annually to a member of the Jaguars family who exemplifies the exceptional qualities during their rehabilitation consistently demonstrated by Luke during his amazing recovery.
Six-year old Luke suffered a seizure on Dec. 31, 2010 while riding in the backseat of the family car and he spent the next five months at Brooks Rehabilitation and Wolfson Children's Hospital. He was diagnosed with a rare case of encephalitis. For the first three months, Luke couldn't sit up, talk or walk as the left side of his body could no longer function. Doctors weren't optimistic he would ever move his legs again. Luke began moving his legs on June 21 for the first time since the seizures and continues to undergo an aggressive rehab schedule four days a week.
"Our staff is honored to create this award in honor of a role model and friend," said Mike Ryan, Jaguars head athletic trainer/physical therapist. "This award not only represents the character of the athlete but acknowledges, as Luke demonstrated so clearly, strength of both body and mind to do your very best each and every day."
The inaugural winner will be announced next week.
